Nevada sports books reject bets from California horse track

Cantor Gaming, Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Boyd Gaming Corp. will not accept bets on horse races at Golden Gate Fields' 17-day summer meet that began Friday.

The three gaming companies, which operate 27 race and sports books in Nevada, have declined to accept wagers on races at the track near Berkeley, Calif., since the Nevada Gaming Control Board has not approved a pari-mutuel contract between Golden Gate and the Las Vegas Dissemination Co. (LVDC).

MGM Resorts International, which operates 10 sports books in Las Vegas, is accepting most bets on races at Golden Gate, except for pick three, pick six and a few others, according to a spokesman.

Dan Shapiro, director of marketing with William Hill U.S., said the company is "booking" wagers on races at Golden Gate, even without a pari-mutuel contract. William Hill operates race books statewide.

Shapiro said full track odds are available on win, place and show bets. So-called exotic bets, including exactas, daily double and pick three, are subject to limits, he said.

LVDC, owned by John Gaughan, provides pari-mutuel wagering and horse racing simulcasts to sports books statewide. Sports book operators declined to comment on the potential loss of revenue and state taxes with Golden Gate races unavailable.

The loss of racing at Golden Gate Fields comes as the LVDC and Off-Track Pari-Mutuel Wagering Committee continue negotiations on a new contract. The committee, which is comprised of 11 licensed pari-mutuel race books, is given the authority by gaming regulators to negotiate a contract on behalf of all Nevada sports books.

Both sides have been unable to reach agreement on a new contract. On July 30, Nevada gaming regulators initiated a three-week extension of an expiring contract between the LVDC and the committee.

The Nevada Gaming Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday on the dispute over terms of providing pari-mutuel wagering and horse racing simulcasts. If no deal is reached by Friday, sports books statewide will likely stop accepting bets on horse races and replace simulcasts of races from tracks nationwide with other televised sporting events.

Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.